"I gave her your number. She'll come back right after work tonight. You two should meet; you can't go forward without knowing each other!" Kong Chengyi interrupted, his hands still fidgeting as a faintly mocking smile played at his lips. He wondered how long Fang Xiufang could tolerate his demeanor.
"All right!" Ding Jia forced a smile, but her gaze lingered on Lin Xiao. From start to finish, her eyes wandered, never truly meeting her own.
Sipping tea slowly, Kong Zhendong remained silent. Even usually lively and playful Fang Xiufang stayed unusually quiet.
"Grandma, I'm sorry I haven't visited you during your long hospital stay. Chengyi has been stopping me, afraid I'd disturb your rest!" Ding Jia broke the silence again, her eyes filled with endless affection as they fixed on Kong Chengyi. "If you're bored at home, I can come every day to keep you company. Or anywhere you want to go, I can go with you!"
Ding Jia never forgot Fang Xiufang's importance. Rather than facing cold indifference, she preferred to curry favor. As long as Fang Xiufang nodded, she'd be happy. Kong Zhendong and his wife posed no real obstacle.
"If Miss Ding came, it would indeed bother me. Chengyi understands this well. Now that I'm home, I want peace and quiet; it's better not to disturb this old bone!" Fang Xiufang smiled gently but firmly rejected the goodwill, still concerned about that girl Hua Lanxi. She quietly thought about secretly visiting her one day with Kong Huan.
"Yes!" Ding Jia's smile instantly dropped upon such a blunt refusal. She couldn't hide her disappointment.
"I told you there's a company event, so I insisted you come straight home after work. What's this all about?" Kong Huan grumbled uneasily as she stepped in, swinging her bag.
"One more word and you're going straight back to work tomorrow!" Kong Chengyi turned sharply to look at Kong Huan, cutting off her complaints.
"Brother, you're such a tyrant, always threatening me! Cheng Shaobai treats Cheng Yi so well—not like you, threatening people every day!" Pouting, Kong Huan couldn't hold back her retort as she cheerfully ran toward Fang Xiufang. Softly, she called, "Grandma…"
"Huanhuan…" Suddenly hearing her name called in a gentle voice, Kong Huan turned, surprised to see Ding Jia standing close to Kong Chengyi.
"Huanhuan, I'm Ding Jia. Sorry that your brother rushed you back. Next time, I'll invite you out to make up for it!" Ding Jia flashed her trademark smile and spoke with a flattering tone, implicitly asserting her status.
"Uh…" Taken aback by the woman who had been the talk of the town suddenly showing up at home, Kong Huan glanced nervously, unsure what was happening. Her eyes flicked to Kong Chengyi as if silently asking, "What's going on here?"
"Ding Jia is my fiancée now—your future sister-in-law!" Kong Chengyi glanced at Kong Huan's stunned expression, easily guessing she had no idea about the media hype. Clearly, the girl hadn't followed the news.
"Fiancée? Sister-in-law?" Her voice shot up eight tones in shock, drowning out her daze. When did this happen? How come she knew nothing about it?
"Yes. From now on, we're family!" Ding Jia flashed a sweet smile and confidently proclaimed her identity, her eyes shining.
"Brother, you must be joking!" Kong Huan refused to accept Ding Jia from the bottom of her heart. Images of Hua Lanxi's gentle and kind nature flashed in her mind, and she cursed silently.
"Pick a date and start preparing for the wedding!" Without further explanation, Kong Chengyi tossed the decisive words to Kong Zhendong, then took Ding Jia's hand and led her toward the dining room. "Aunt Yang, dinner's ready!"
"Grandma!" Feeling utterly ignored, Kong Huan puffed her cheeks in anger and turned to Fang Xiufang, her glare sweeping over Kong Zhendong and his wife. "Dad, Mom, a wedding? Don't you need to agree?"
"Eat. If it's none of your business, don't speak!" Fang Xiufang slowly stood up with her cane, her clear eyes fixing the silent couple. "You all quit interfering! Pick the date if you must!"
After a long hospitalization, she no longer eagerly longed for grandchildren. She even silently blamed Kong Chengyi's "custom-made" absurdity as partly responsible. Though dissatisfied, she would no longer block it outright. At her age, she had seen every kind of storm and person. Ding Jia lacked Hua Lanxi's shine and purity—that was plain to see—but it remained for Kong Chengyi to figure out.
"Yes, Mom." Kong Zhendong nodded gently, glancing at Lin Xiao, signaling him toward the dining room.
Though everyone opposed the idea inwardly, no one dared to stand up and stop it. Kong Huan stomped in fury and angrily followed into the dining room.
Led by Kong Chengyi to the table, Ding Jia was seated right beside Fang Xiufang, directly opposite Lin Xiao, who took his seat slowly.
"I don't have time for this wedding. I'm busy lately!" Slamming his chair back heavily, Kong Huan grit her teeth and stated firmly.
Humph! Marriage just decided out of the blue. She was still waiting for Hua Lanxi's return and would never surrender to Ding Jia or betray Hua Lanxi.
Just as she raised her chopsticks, she heard Kong Huan's threatening, displeased words. Instantly displeased, Ding Jia smiled politely and replied with care, "You can take a day off, can't you? If your boss won't agree, your brother can negotiate for you. If work's so busy, won't you ruin your health? Maybe you should quit? Or…"
"If work's busy, then skip it!" Lin Xiao interrupted coldly, cutting off Ding Jia's pleadings. His was the first real sentence of the evening.
Like being forcefully gagged, Ding Jia widened her eyes in surprise at Lin Xiao.
"I plan to go on a European and American trip with friends. If I can't come back in time, I won't attend either!" Calmly, Lin Xiao picked some vegetables and placed them in his bowl, then looked up at Kong Chengyi. "The wedding is what you want. Whether we show up isn't important."
Having held in her feelings all night, expecting to stay silent, Ding Jia's composure finally broke listening to her own sharp tongue and fake smiles.
"Do as you please!" Looking calmly at Lin Xiao, Kong Chengyi replied indifferently, as though the no-show wasn't anyone important. Then he put a piece of fish in Ding Jia's bowl. "It's fresh. Eat more!"
Softly "mm-hmm-ing," a flicker of anger stirred in Ding Jia. Her gaze shot toward Lin Xiao, who ate without changing expression, making her blood boil.
With a sharp smack, Kong Huan slammed her chopsticks on the table. "I'm full. I'm going to my room!"
"Huanhuan…" Ding Jia stopped eating and looked at Kong Huan with tearful eyes. "I'm sorry, it's my fault…"
"Keep eating!" Cutting off Ding Jia's apology, Kong Chengyi glanced at Kong Huan and continued eating as if nothing mattered.
"Ahem…" Fang Xiufang cleared her throat and said, "Keep eating!"
Slamming the chair back, Kong Huan stormed off the table. As she left, Lin Xiao's own built-up frustration instantly turned to sadness.
When had she needed to endure so much grievance? When had she to lower herself so far? Why had she put herself in such a position? Silently, she stirred the rice in her bowl and tears welled up in her eyes.
Each lost in their own thoughts, the dining atmosphere became utterly dead. Even the sound of chewing rice was unusually loud.
Though unable to savor the food, Ding Jia stuffed various dishes into her mouth and occasionally loudly praised the taste. Only Kong Chengyi responded briefly. The awkwardness and resentment filled her heart.
After dinner, Kong Zhendong finally called Kong Chengyi into the study alone. Fang Xiufang, citing tiredness, went back to her room. The large living room was left with only expressionless Lin Xiao and Ding Jia.
After a cup of tea's time, Lin Xiao stared at Ding Jia repeatedly, who smiled sweetly as usual, sipping her tea.
Taking several deep breaths to suppress her rising fury and curse, Lin Xiao suddenly stood, intending to return to his room where he wouldn't have to see them.
"Remember what I said last time? I'm not very satisfied with your performance tonight!" Ding Jia set down her teacup calmly, raising her eyes with sharp malice.
"You!" Lin Xiao was so angry at her blatant threat he nearly jumped up to strike back.
"I will be Chengyi's wife—your sister-in-law. So, you better treat me well. Don't make me lose control! I'm here, so you should welcome me warmly and smile! Wedding—how can you not attend? Huh? Future mother-in-law!" Ding Jia bluntly accepted Kong Huan's refusal to attend, cut off her advice, and declared she wouldn't attend either. Was she inviting the whole world to laugh at her? She wouldn't allow that.
Clenching his fists tightly, his full, red lips pressed thin, Lin Xiao struggled to suppress his anger and warned softly, "Ding Jia, don't go too far!"
"Heh…" Covering her mouth with a light laugh, Ding Jia's sharp gaze skipped over Lin Xiao and landed on the descending Kong Chengyi. Her look softened instantly as she gracefully stood and suddenly hugged Lin Xiao, whispering in his ear, "Remember next time we meet, warmly welcome me. Smile!"
"Let's go!" Frowning at Ding Jia's embrace of Lin Xiao, Kong Chengyi's eyes filled with disgust as he turned away and roughly pulled Ding Jia off her.
The hateful and contemptuous look instantly drained the color from Lin Xiao's face. He slumped onto the sofa, dazed.
Driving sharply away from the Kong family mansion, Kong Chengyi's face was cold, his lips tightly pressed, radiating chill.
Ding Jia stared out the car window, wondering what Kong Zhendong and Kong Chengyi had discussed but didn't dare ask.
Suddenly, from behind came the sound of horns: "Beep! Beep! Beep!" Ding Jia glanced into the rearview mirror and saw a black SUV speeding toward them.